Off the Cuff / My Other Journal

Baring your stuff

According to a today's news update, two women bared their breasts while Britain's Prince Charles arrived for a visit at New Zealand.

As Charles walked through the city's Civic Square, the demonstrators yelled, "parasites, parasites". Some also chanted: "Shame on the British monarchy, shame for years of colonialism, shame for years of genocide."

I understand the problem and empathize with the people protesting, but I don't understand why they went to ridiculous extremes to make a point. Doesn't this kind of behavior make one seem silly, unreasonable, and even insane, and doesn't it diminish the importance of the issue at hand? I agree that, in this day and age, a monarchy making an island on the other side of the world its colony is preposterous, but isn't there a more civilized method of making your voice heard?

Yet, there is more to this story. The police also carried away a woman breastfeeding her child.

After this action of the police, surely the breast-barers appear less silly.